SOHMA Integrative Medicine

We offer the best of Eastern & Western medicine without using drugs or surgery

Who Needs Herbal Medicine?

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People have been using herbal medicine for longer than recorded history, and in recent years, it has regained much of its popularity. One of the reasons is that herbal medication is often more affordable and easier to obtain when compared to modern pharmaceuticals. 

While modern medicine is meant to suppress the symptoms of whatever they are attempting to treat, herbal medicine attempts to find the root cause of your condition. They are creating a  personalized treatment plan that is unique to each individual.

Although natural and generally safe, you should always ask your primary care provider and herbal pharmacist before starting a treatment plan.

Join us as we go over who needs herbal medicine and how it benefits your wellness.

Preventive Care

Herbal medicine is a fantastic choice for those searching for preventative care. Ensuring our strong and healthy immune system has become a major priority in recent years. You can take herbal supplements in capsules for your immunity as long as you purchase from a reputable herbal pharmacy. Unfortunately, due to relaxed regulations on herbal supplements, some companies take advantage of patients by selling products that are less potent than described or potentially contaminated.

If you don’t have access to a reputable source, a healthy diet incorporating many medicinal herbs and spices is a great way to help improve your immune system’s health. Turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and spearmint are commonly found in supermarkets and can add flavor to your dishes and support your immune system.

Digestive Disorders

Digestive issues are often seen as embarrassing and awkward. However, sometimes we’ll eat something that doesn’t agree with our stomachs, or we can’t eat a balanced meal due to stress. This can often lead to symptoms such as:

  • Nausea
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 
  • Upset Stomach
  • Diarrhea
  • Heartburn
  • Constipation

Luckily, there are many natural herbs to help manage these issues. Ginger is known to help with nausea and bloating. The flower of the dandelion plant can be used to improve an upset stomach, while the herb’s root can be used as a mild diuretic to improve digestion. The oils in a peppermint plant can help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Green tea contains high levels of polyphenols, catechins, and antioxidants. These can help to soothe stomach aches and aid in digesting.

Alternative to pharmaceuticals

Headaches and Migraines

Nearly everyone has had to deal with a headache, and while NSAIDs like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen are common over-the-counter medicines that can help reduce pain, relying on them too often can lead to dependency. 

Herbs like feverfew and butterbur are excellent choices to help with headaches and migraines. Feverfew and butterbur are effective herbs against migraines due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender and peppermint oils have calming properties, which can help to reduce tension when applied to the skin. A warm cup of chamomile tea also has soothing qualities to help alleviate some of the stress causing your headaches.

Holistic Approaches to Wellness

Herbal medicine approaches health holistically, addressing not only the physical symptoms but also the underlying problems and attempting to find the root cause, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. Herbal medicine attempts to heal the body naturally. People looking for a more holistic perspective on health and wellness may find herbal medicine appealing. 

Discussing any herbal treatment with your primary care provider and your herbalist if you are taking medication is essential. Mixing medications and herbs can have adverse reactions.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step to better health.

Who needs HCTP Therapies?

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As we move to the future of wellness, advancements in modern solutions to help those who suffer from chronic pain have been developing. Such as innovative cellular therapy, this breakthrough medical revolution has been helping the body to heal itself from the inside without the need for prescription drugs and in some cases even avoid surgeries.

HCTP based therapies are being used to help repair injuries and promote the healing of  musculoskeletal conditions. 

Today, we’ll go over the benefits of HCTP therapies and who should consider HCTP therapies for their conditions.

What are HCTPs Therapies?

Human cellular tissue products (HCTP) therapies are a non-surgical method where cells are introduced to areas with damaged tissues. The HCTP then begins a process of replacing and regenerating the damaged cells in the area being treated.

The cells can come from an external source such as a donor or they can come from the tissue from your own body. The goal is to help patients attain wellness without the need for invasive surgeries or reliance on long term pharmaceutical use.

What are the Benefits of HCTP Therapies?

HCTPs are used to help with a broad spectrum of conditions which includes injuries, chronic conditions and degenerative conditions. HCTPs have the potential to help the body repair tendons, which is the tissue that connects the muscle to the bone. Ligaments which connect bones to other bones like in joints. The cartilage in between the bones, and even the muscle. HCTP therapies have been used to aid in the recovery and treatment of conditions such as:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Chronic Joint Pain
  • Chronic Muscle Pain
  • Inflammation
  • Muscle Sprains and Tears
  • Ligaments and Tendon Injuries

In some cases the tissue that is repaired can return to its original function in areas of the body which are used often such as the hips, shoulders, knees, and other large joints. Whether the goal is to simply regain independence to be able to go shopping or get back into a sport you love, HCTP therapies have been shown to help many patients in recovery.

Many times after an injury the pain is only masked with pain killers, and symptoms are managed with medications such as corticosteroid shots and anti-inflammatories. These oftentimes only hide the symptoms and over time the body can develop a tolerance and dependency on the medication. HCTP therapies aim to heal the body from the inside out. It’s been shown to increase function to damaged tissues and manage pain, sometimes even being able to stop the pain all together.

While there are times where surgery will be necessary, such as when bones break HCTP therapies can be incorporated in the post surgery recovery. The cells can be used to help manage pain and accelerate the healing process. 

Are There any Risks to HCTP Therapies?

While risks to HCTP therapies is low, it’s never zero, however side effects are rare. The most common complaint is discomfort and sensitivity in the area being treated. Afterall the HCTP is administered through an injection meaning it will hurt to a certain extent. Typically the discomfort is only felt while the HCTPs are being delivered though patients receiving treatment for nerve related issues may notice increased sensitivity which can be seen as a side effect.

To ensure the best possible treatment for you, it’s best practice to communicate with your primary health provider as well as the staff at SOHMA in order to facilitate treatment while minimizing risks to you.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Who Needs IV Therapy?

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IV therapy uses the same kind of IV drip used in medical applications while in a therapeutic setting. If you’ve ever felt tired after a hard day at work, or you’ve been feeling off because you’ve had poor sleep? IV therapy can help with this, and many other issues that can commonly affect most people.

In today’s article we’ll go over what IV Therapy is and who can benefit from it to facilitate whether or not you should consider IV therapy for yourself.

Myer’s Cocktail IV Therapy

As we begin to age, it can become more and more difficult to maintain a nutritional balance within your body. At SOHMA Integrated Medicine in Long Beach CA we offer the Myer’s cocktail IV therapy. This is a perfectly crafted blend of Vitamin C, B complex, Magnesium and Calcium. This blend of nutrients is perfect to help you regain that nutritional balance. Which in turn can help you to improve your immune system functions. It’s also been shown to help manage symptoms caused by adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Ozone Therapy

Ozone therapy is also given through an IV, ozone has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and may act as a disinfectant. This can help to prevent viral replication which may reduce the amount of time a patient deals with infections. Ozone can also help improve local circulation and patients report an increase of energy after the ozone therapy is completed.

What Are The Benefits of IV Therapy?

As previously stated, IV therapy can be used to help replenish nutrients and fluids after you’ve physically exerted yourself through a day. Many patients notice signs of  increase in energy levels as well as mental clarity and improved mood while their body absorbs the nutrients. This makes IV therapy great for hard workers and athletes. However, those aren’t the only aspects that IV therapy can help you with. In fact IV therapy has a multitude of benefits.

Having an imbalance of nutrients can also lead to headaches and migraines. Because the nutrients are delivered through an IV drip, it bypasses the digestive system. When consuming supplements orally, they first need to go through the digestive system. This can cause the nutrients to take much longer for the body to absorb and in some cases the body can end up destroying some of the vitamins and minerals. Meaning you don’t always absorb the same amount that you consume. With an IV drip the nutrients are available immediately to the bloodstream. This can then help reduce swelling and tension which can be the cause of many headaches and migraines.

Hangovers can be difficult to manage, and oftentimes occurs when you don’t drink enough water in between alcoholic beverages or perhaps the night was incredibly enjoyable. Myer’s cocktail IV therapy can help to replenish the fluids your body craves after a night of drinking while Vitamin C and Magnesium can help reduce the swelling which can cause the notorious hangover symptom, the headache.

Is IV Therapy for Me?

IV therapy has a wide variety of benefits to many different people. It is generally seen as a safe way to deliver vitamins, minerals, fluids and electrolytes. Despite this, it’s important for you to inform the staff at SOHA if you are currently on any medication as there is a possibility that some medicine can have a contrasting effect with the vitamins and minerals in the IV blend. Just like injections, IV therapy can run the risk of infection. For this reason its best practice to only allow trained professionals to administer IV therapy.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Who Needs Cupping Therapy?

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Cupping therapy has been used historically by many cultures throughout history. In the last few years however, cupping therapy has grown in popularity. This is due to many celebrities and athletes using it as part of their recovery. The round marks on their backs is a tale tale sign that they are receiving cupping therapy.

Cupping therapy has more benefits than just recovery, in today’s article we’ll go over who benefits from cupping therapy and what cupping therapy can help them with.

What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy uses a pump or flame to create a negative pressure or vacuum within a cup, the cup is then placed on the skin. Because of the negative pressure in the cup, the skin, muscle, fascia is pulled up into the cup. This may cause an increased blood flow into the area being threatened. Freshly oxygenated and nutrient rich blood courses through the area being treated which may reduce inflammation, help manage pain and aid in recovery. 

When the soft tissue is pulled up into the cup, it also helps to remove toxins and stagnant blood from muscle as well as knots. Allowing them to be recirculated and removed by the body. This can result in round marks that resemble a bruise, this isn’t a bruise however, it is closer to a “giant hickey”. These cupping marks are not without significance, the color and intensity of the mark can help to determine the condition of the area being treated. With lighter marks meaning there is balance in the muscle and darker marks meaning more therapy may be needed.

Who Can Benefit From Cupping Therapy?

Nearly everyone can find a benefit from cupping therapy. It can be used as a relaxing cupping massage that can help with mental health and relaxation. An additional benefit can be a reduction of blood pressure or hypertension. Cupping therapy can help aid in managing pain caused by many forms of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis. Asthma and other upper respiratory issues can also be helped through the use of cupping as it may help with reducing inflammation in the bronchi. 

Office workers are oftentimes stricken with carpal tunnel syndrome after many hours at their computer. Typically this can be caused by bad posture or poor working habits, though cupping therapy can be used to ease tension from carpal tunnel syndrome. Cupping therapy can help release tension and promote muscle relaxation in the wrists. Another common affliction for workers who spend hours in front of their computers are headaches and migraines, which cupping can be used to help relieve the tension caused by stress and poor posture.

By drawing stagnant blood away from the area being treated and bringing new fresh blood to that same area, people have reported that cupping has helped them manage their symptoms and bring them relief from pain.

Who Should Avoid Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is generally considered a safe and practical modality for most people as long as you are visiting a trained health professional. Though there are a few individuals who should consider a different form of therapy to help with managing their symptoms and pain. 

Conditions such as hemophilia and anemia which are blood related disorders can result in bleeding and loss of energy. As Cupping therapy can increase the blood flow, it can worsen the symptoms of these conditions.

In a similar vein, people suffering from kidney failure, liver disease and heart disease should also avoid cupping therapy. As it can compromise any current treatment you are undergoing. For this reason it’s best practice to let the therapist know of any pre-existing conditions you may have or if you are taking any medication such as blood thinners. 

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

How To Find A Reputable IV Therapy Center Near Me

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While it may surprise that the same IV drip used in a hospital setting can be used therapeutically, its popularity has recently increased. Many athletes and celebrities endorse IV therapy as part of their wellness program. With a wide variety of benefits and uses, IV therapy has been shown to help manage the effects of hangovers, dehydration, and fatigue to boost energy when feeling exhausted. However, IV therapy isn’t limited to just that. It’s also been shown to help in aiding with:

  • Boosting the Immune System
  • Improving Blood Circulation
  • Enhancing Mood
  • Helping Manage Migraines

Many people who try IV therapy often mention a noticeable improvement in their mood and that they feel more relaxed after therapy. We offer Myer’s Cocktail IV therapy at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach, CA. It’s a perfectly crafted blend of Vitamin C, B complex, Magnesium, and Calcium. 

With these many benefits, it’s no wonder why IV therapy has become popular. However, you should be sure you are visiting a trustworthy IV therapy center to ensure you’re getting the service and quality you deserve. 

Join me as we go over your considerations when looking for a reputable IV therapy center.

Customer Reviews

The first place you should check is the customer reviews. While not the absolute best metric, customer reviews hold significant weight on how the center is perceived online. There are many things to remember when finding online reviews, though. For example, recent reviews hold more weight than older reviews. The number of reviews can also make an enormous difference in each review’s value. Perfect scores are excellent, though if there are only 5 reviews, then there may be something else going on. Even if a center has a perfect score, it can remove bad reviews or a low customer base if there are only a few reviews. Whereas if a center has hundreds and only a few negative reviews, the negative reviews can be seen as outliers.

Customer feedback is often the most commonly used metric for new clients. Many people prefer to work with a business that doesn’t hide their negative reviews, as this keeps them honest and shows they’re working on getting better.

Quality their Practice

There is only so much information you can learn from the internet. If you are unsure about a certain location, visit the practice and discover how it is in person. IV therapy has few potential side effects, and the risk is reduced if the practice is strict about hygiene and safety standards. Simply entering a practice can reveal the kind of quality and care they have for their hygiene. 

Hygiene is important with IV therapy because you don’t want to risk any pathogens entering the body through the IV. This is one of the few ways IV therapy can result in infections and a negative experience.

Ask Questions

Before you choose your IV therapy center, consider asking questions. A reputable IV therapy center will gladly answer your questions. They should provide detailed responses to ease your curiosity. Example questions you can ask include:

  • What is IV therapy?
  • What is in the IV?
  • How long have you been doing IV therapy?
  • What should I expect?
  • How long does it take?

Gather as much information as you can in order to make the correct decision for yourself. 

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Are Biologics, HCTPs, and CTPs the Same Thing?

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In the last twenty years, there has been substantial growth in the study and understanding of our immune system. This has come along with the improvement of biological therapies, including human cellular tissue products (HCTPs) and cell therapy products (CTPs). 

There is no simple answer to this question. While they have many things in common and are used similarly, they aren’t the same. They are a form of cell therapy that promotes the body’s natural healing. In some cases, you can circumvent surgery if results are successful.

In today’s article, we’ll explore what HCTPs, CTPs, and Biologics are and how they can help your body recover.

What are Biologics?

Also called biological therapy, biologics is a new kind of medical product that is derived from organisms. This product is processed until it can be used to help treat various ailments and conditions. Due to how biologics are derived, they are often administered via injections or infusions. 

Biological therapy has been shown to respond positively when used in the treatment of the following conditions:

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Colitis
  • Psoriasis
  • Multiple Sclerosis

Like with many medicines, side effects can be present during treatment. These are typically minor and include:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Loss of Appetite
  • Soreness at the Injection Site

While most side effects are mild, patients can experience low blood pressure in rare cases, which can be severe if left unchecked.

What are HCTPs 

HCTPs are used similarly to biological therapy by injecting the product into injured body areas. Often used to treat issues in major joints such as ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, and shoulders, this regenerative medicine is used to aid in the treatment of conditions such as:

  • Arthritis
  • Chronic Joint and Muscle Pain
  • Swelling and Inflammation
  • Muscle and Ligament Tears and Sprains

HCTP injections have been used as an alternative to painkillers and invasive surgeries. HCTPs, once injected, will attempt to repair damaged tissue at the cellular level. They attach to surrounding blood vessels, signaling them to rejuvenate, regenerate, and replace damaged cells.

Because HCTP injections help the body to create new tissue, it often takes weeks for a patient to notice significant improvement and pain reduction. This all depends on the injury being treated and the patient’s physical condition.

What are CTPs

CTPs are a new type of medicine formed from cells and tissues modified to change biological characteristics. These modified cells are introduced via injection into a patient. CTPs have shown promise in helping patients manage and reduce symptoms caused by several conditions, including:

  • Cancers
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Injury and Physical Trauma 
  • Nerve Damage

CTPs are unique because they are specialized, like muscle cells for injuries. The main objective of CTP therapy is to introduce new cells into the patient’s body. These cells help repair, regenerate, and replace damaged tissues.

While not the same, these three forms of therapy attempt to do similar tasks: to provide relief from pain and the effort to regenerate damaged cells to return normal function to the body.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.